# US 5,924,971 A · Cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material into a cushioning product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,924,971 A - Document ID: US5924971A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/483,104 - Filed: 1995-06-07 - Granted: 1999-07-20 - Earliest claimed: 1994-04-01 - Assignees: Ranpak Corp. - Inventors: James A. Simmons - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5924971A ## CPC - B31D 5/0056: {involving belts} - B31D 5/0047: {involving toothed wheels} - B65D 81/02: specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage {(containers of polygonal cross-section provided with internal protecting elements for contents B65D5/50; devices to locate articles in containers B65D25/10)} - B65D 81/051: {using pillow-like elements filled with cushioning material, e.g. elastic foam, fabric} - B65D 81/09: using flowable discrete elements of shock-absorbing material, e.g. pellets or popcorn - B31D 2205/0023: as web from a roll - B31D 2205/0047: Feeding, guiding or shaping the material - B31D 2205/0082: General layout of the machinery or relative arrangement of its subunits - Y10S 206/814: Space filler - Y10S 428/906: Roll or coil - Y10S 493/967: Dunnage, wadding, stuffing, or filling excelsior - Y10T 428/1307: Bag or tubular film [e.g., pouch, flexible food casing, envelope, etc.] - Y10T 428/1334: Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.] - Y10T 428/23: Sheet including cover or casing - B31D: MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES B31B OR B31C (manufacture by dry processes of articles made from particles or fibres consisting of wood or other lignocellulosic or like organic material B27N; making layered products not composed wholly of paper or cardboard B32B; making articles from cellulosic fibrous suspensions, e.g. wood pulp, D21J) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a dunnage product. The machine includes a set of rotating members movable between a first position whereat they interact to deform the sheet-like stock material as it travels therethrough and a second position whereat they are separated a sufficient distance to permit easy threading of the stock material during loading of the machine. A mechanism is provided for selectively moving the rotating members between the first and second positions to permit easy threading of the stock material during loading of the machine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a dunnage product, the machine comprising a frame, conversion assemblies mounted to the frame, and a stock supply assembly positioned upstream of the conversion assemblies; the conversion assemblies including a forming assembly which receives stock material from the stock supply assembly and which shapes the stock material into a strip of dunnage; the conversion assemblies also including a set of rotating members which interact to deform the sheet-like stock material as it travels therethrough; the machine further comprising a mechanism which retracts the rotating members relative to each other to permit easy threading of the stock material during loading of the machine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A cushioning conversion machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotating members are mounted on respective shafts coupled to the frame and wherein the shafts are resiliently biased towards each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A cushioning conversion machine asset forth in claim 1 wherein the rotating members are positioned upstream of the forming assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A cushioning conversion machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the rotating members comprise embossing rollers which imprint an embossing pattern onto the stock material. ### Claim 5 A method of using a cushioning conversion machine including a set of rotating members which engage to deform the sheet-like stock material as it travels therethrough said method comprising the steps of: providing a stock material; separating the rotating members relative to each other; threading the stock material through the rotating members; re-engaging the rotating members; and converting the stock material into a strip of dunnage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as est forth in claim 5 wherein said providing step comprises providing multiple plies of stock material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of providing multiple plies of stock material comprises providing a multi-ply roll of stock material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein only certain plies are threaded through the rotating members. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) A method as set forth in claim 5 further comprising the step of cutting the dunnage strip into sections of a desired length. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said converting step further comprises embossing the stock material, wherein said embossing is performed by the rotating members. ### Claim 11 A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a dunnage product, the machine comprising a frame, conversion assemblies mounted to the frame, and a stock supply assembly positioned upstream of the conversion assemblies; the conversion assemblies including a set of rotating members movable between a first position whereat they interact to deform the sheet-like stock material as it travels therethrough and a second position whereat they are separated a sufficient distance to permit easy threading of the stock material during loading of the machine; the machine further comprising a mechanism for selectively moving the rotating members between the first and second positions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A cushioning conversion machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein the rotating members are resiliently biased towards each other in the first position at a certain biasing force to apply a corresponding pinch pressure to the stock material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A cushioning conversion machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein the rotating members are adjustable in the first position to vary the biasing force and thus the pinch pressure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A cushioning conversion machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein the conversion assemblies also include a forming assembly which inwardly turns the stock material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A cushioning conversion machine as set forth in claim 14 wherein the rotating members are positioned upstream of the forming assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A cushioning conversion machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein the rotating members comprise embossing rollers which imprint an embossing pattern onto the stock material.